CryptIt 1.4

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• Quick specs
• Price: Free to try (30-day trial); $8.00 to buy
• Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
• Date added: February 18, 2008
• Total Downloads: 2,797
• Downloads last week: 20
• See full specifications

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CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: CNET Staff

Although novice users might be initially intimidated by CryptIt's packed interface, it proved to be an easy-to-use encryption program.

CryptIt launches a medium-size window that has numerous fields and buttons. There are no graphics to make it more visually appealing; it's a straightforward, get-'er-done app with no extraneous bells and whistles. The interface actually is easy to master after a single use, and its functions are easy to understand thanks to a very clear Help feature. The app uses the XOR method of encryption, and because it uses a file selected by the user as a key file instead of a standard algorithm, the encrypted output files are more difficult to crack.

CryptIt performed well in our tests. It encrypted and decrypted files in a matter of seconds. Setting up a file to execute also was very simple. We liked that we could select files to encrypt or decrypt either by using a Browse button or simply by dragging and dropping onto the interface of the app.

Its 30-day trial limit is adequate for determining its suitability for your needs. Commercial or experienced users needing frequent or more robust encryption measures may prefer an app with more bells and whistles, but CryptIt may still be worth a try. Encryption novices should definitely try out this novice-friendly program.

Publisher's description

Most file encryptors use methods that rely on the theory of computational security, that is the difficulty of key factorisation prevents decryption ofthe file. But this method may not work forever. It used to be considered that a 56 bit key was unbreakable to brute force attacks, but the government of the USA now requires all Top Secret data to use keys of at least 192 bits. This bar will keep raising as computing power increases. (It is argued by some though that this will never happen due to the laws of physics) CryptIt is designed to use conventional XOR encryption on keys that are the same size as the file to be encrypted. Furthermore, if you use an unpredictable file that is the same size (or larger) than the original file and you use this file only once, this is known as a one-time pad and it is completely unbreakable, even to computers 1000 years from now. Version 1.4 includes unspecified updates.

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